Sealing-off device



' 1,6 1, June 1927' WALTHER-WINFRIED LOEBE ET AL 3 377 SEALING OFF DEVICE 5 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 figz 2/ 6L El 26 24 H r {WW/3 1 lnventorsz'Walther W Loebe, Mcix Gressmomn, by M W Their Attrneg 1927. JWALTHER-WINFRIED LOEBE E AL SEALING OFF DEVI CB Filed Feb. 20. 1926 2Sheets-Sheet 2 '7 m 2 /5 Fig.6

25 I4 Ill! Hill 19 :91. 20 O /a a? a 7 Inventors: \A/OJ'bheT" \M Loebe.

Max Gvossmahn, 1%?

Their Attorney.

Patented June 7, 1927.

UNITED STATES i 1,631,377 PATENT OFFICE.-

WALTHEB-WINFRIED LOEBE AND MAX GROSSMANN, OI BERLIN, GERMANY, A8-

SIGNORS TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SEALING-OFF DEVICE.

Application filed February 29, 1925,'Ser1a1 No. 10,552, and inGermanyHarch 14, 1924.

The invention relates to a device for the automatic sealing off anddelivery of vacuum .and gas filled incandescent lamps and similar sealedglass vessels. Its principal ohject is to deliver the sealed off lamp,dropping it by its own weight into the conveying chute and without anyturning or twisting movements which may easily cause breakage of thelamps. To this end and in 10 accordance with the invention the lamp isheld, whilst being sealed ofi, in a slanting or horizontal osition by aclamplike holder which, after t clamp is drawn away from the fusedexhaust tube, releases it into a conveying chute arranged between thehold ers. In order to hold the lamp securely during the sealingoff-operation, there may be advantageously used a lamp holder comprisingtwo movable holding fingers joined to each other by means of a pivotallymounted bar, one finger engaging the neck of the lamp and the otherengaging its top, so that the lamp is clamped lengthwise between the twofingers. 'In order to obtain a simple mode of operation the lamp holderis so supported that at the moment of the softening of the small exhausttube the holder is tipped, by the action of its own weight, only, theamount necessary for dropping the lamp and transferring it into theconveying chute. There is to advantage a sealing ofli' burner movablymounted on the lamp holder or bracket adjacent the finger which engagesthe neck of the lamp and during the upping of the lamp holder or bracketthis burner is stopped earlier than the holder by a stop. so that thedistance between the sealing ofi' burner and, the adjacent finger isincreased at theend. ofthe sealing ofi? operation. In this way thesealing ofi' of the exhaust tube is facilitated and the newly formed tipis so far removed from the flame that it can be well rounded off. Thentoo the glass parts of the lamp resting on the adjacent finger cannot beso easily endangered by the action ofthe flame of the sealing oil'burner.

In the drawing there is shown one illustrative embodiment of theinvention as one form of the sealing 0H and delivery device incombination with arotatable exhaust machine for electric incandescentlamps.

Figure 1 is a side view of the device at the moment of receiving thelamp to be sealed off; F igure2 is a partial plan .view

CAD

of the device of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a partial front view ,of the sealing offburner with the adjacent finger of the lamp holder; and F1gures4, 5 and6 are side views showing successive positions of the sealing 01f device50 ta nd its parts during the sealing off opera- The valve 1 of theexhaust machine, which may be constructed in general as shown in U. S.,patent to Massey 996,936, July 4, 1911 95 1S turned either step by stepor slowly and continuously. The lamps 2 which are to be exhausted and inmany cases subsequently filled with gas, are arranged in a circle on thevalve, being held in a greatly inclined 7 position by their exhausttubes 3 set into and held by heads or sockets 4 on the valve 1. Theseheadsare usually made of thick walled rubber tubing "which grips theexhaust tube firmly enough' to support the tubulated lamp. As the valverotates the lamps will be brought in the usual manner in succession intoconnection with a prelimi nary exhaust pump, then with a high vacuumpump, and finally. with a gas tank, if so the lamps are to befilled'with gas. There is shown in the drawing only that one of thelamps 2 on the valve which the rotation of the valve has brought to thepoint where it is to be sealed oil. The sealing and delivery devicearranged at this point of the exhaustmachine comprises two relativelymovable lamp holding fingers 5 and 6, which are combined into a lampholderor bracket through a bar 7 which is pivotally mounted go on apivot pin 8 in a support 9. The lamp is gripped or clamped lengthwisebetween the two fingers 5 and 6 after it has come into the sealing offposition. The finger 5 which engages the neck of the lamp is, for thispurpose, provided at the top with a plate 10, as best shown in Fig.3,-which has in it a slot 11 for the entrance of the exhaust tube 3. To theplate 10 there is further attached a pivoted cover 12 which isnormallyoverthe slot, but is forced aside as the exhaust tube 3 enters the slot,and then drops by its own weight over the exhaust tube as a protection.The finger 6 for supporting the top of the lamp is pivoted on the bar 7and has a yieldingly supported cap 13 to engage the top of the bulb. Thefinger 6 is under the influence of a spring 14, which tends to pull ittoward the other finger 5 by swinging the finger 6 toward the lamp aboutits pivot pin 15. On the support 9 of the lamp holder an arm 16, ,wh-iccarries at the top an an nular sealing off burner 17, is fiivotallymounted beside and to one side of t e fin er 5, so as to moveindependently of it. he lamp holder or bracket is furt ermore rovidedwith a tail or projection 18, whic in the sealing of position (Figs. 1and 4) bears against an adjusting screw 19 in an elbow lever 21pivotally supported on a stationary part of the .exhaust machine; Theelbow lever 21 'has a roller 22 which rides on a notched cam 23 on theexhaust valve 1 as the valve rotates, and holds or locks the lamp holderor .bracket and the sealing ofi burner 17 stationary in the positionshown in Figs. 1 and 4 as long as t e roller is not in a notch 24 of cam23.

Before the lamp comes into the sealing oif device or lamp holder thefinger 6 may, in order to open the holder, be to advanta e moved to theright against the action of t e spring 14 by-the drive of the exhaustmachine. For separating the bulb. holding fingers to deliver the lampfrom the holder, a

'means is provided for moving the finger 6 through a Bowden pull whichcomprises a tube or guide 25 in which a flexible wire 25' slideslongitudinally, and is actuated by some means, such as a cam 25 which isdriven in pro er time relation to the exhaust valve 21 y gearing of anywell known kind, and therefore, not shown.

As soon as the valvehas carried the lamp into the holder, andtheprotective shield or drop cover 12 has fallenover the exhaust tube 3,the action of the Bowden pull 25 stops, and the finger 6 is then pulledby the spring lettothe left and thereby drawn into holding positionagainst the top of the lamp 2. At the same time, one of the recesses 24of cam 23 has come under the roller 22 of the elbow lever 21. The lamphglder is now free to ti about the. pivot 8 by its own weight so heelbow lever 21 rises somewhat, and the lamp holder tips a little to theright until sto ped by the plate 10 on finger 5 bearing rmly against theneck of the lamp,

as shown in Figure 4. The exhaust tube 3 is softened by the .flame ofthe sealing 01f burner 17, which, likewise tilts a little with the lampholder about the ivot 8. As soon as'the exhaust tube issu cientlysoftened to become plastic the lamp holder tips over further by its ownweight, as does also the sealing ofi' burner 17 and by this furthermovement, the plastic exhaust tube is closed and the lamp is pulled freefrom that portion of the exhaust tube which remains in the head 40f theexhaust valvel, as shown in Figure 5. The extent of the tipping movementof the lamp holder is limited by an adjustable stop 26', and that of thesealing off burner 17 by an adjustable" stop 27. As the stop 27 projectssomewhat further to the left than the stop 26 the sealingofl burner isstopped somewhat sooner than the finger 5 as the bracket tips, so thatwhen the-tipping is completed there is a greater relative separationbetween the sealing ofi" burner 17 and the plate 10 than when thetipping begins, By this arrangement the sealing off burner 17 playsalong the softened point of the exhaust tube and thus insures a completefusion. The tip formed on the exhaust tube of the lamp is moved somewhatfurther from the reach of the flame so that although it is stillsufliciently fused, it never theless can at the same time be wellrounded off by the action of the flame. The further effect is obtainedthat the lam which is protected against the efi'ect of t e flame by theplate 10 and cover 12 is still less endanholder bracket, the finger 6 isagain drawn 'to the right by the Bowden pull (Fig. 6) whereby the lampholder is opened and the lamp is released so it can drop-by its own weiht into the chute 28 arranged to catch the lamp and convey it to astorage container not shown. In the further revolution of the exhaustvalve 1 the elbow lever 21 is again depressed by the action of the cam23, and thus the lamp holder bracket together with the sealin oil burner17 is again brought into the initial position as in Fi e 1', whereuponthe automaticsealing off and delivery of the next lamp is effectedin'the same. manner.

. The operation of the device is as follows: Before the approaching lampreaches the sealing off position the lamp holder is raised .into theposition shown in Figure 1 by the vbell crank lever 21.. While it is inthat position the exhaust tube 3 enters the slot 11 of the arm 5,lifting cover 12 as it enters, the cover falling back into the positionshown in Figure 3 when the lamp finally arrives at sealing off position.At the same time the finger 6 swings toward the lamp under the influenceof the, spring 14, and the lamp is gripped, firmly by the fingers 5 andb. The

parts are now in the position shown in Fig ure 4, with the flame of thesealing oif burner 17 playing upon the exhaust tube, and the pivotedlamp holder free to tilt about its pivot and thereby exert a pull uponthe exhaust tube, As the exhaust tube softens the weight of the lampholder is sufli 1w cient to swing it to the position shown in Fi re 5thereb elongating and drawing out the sbftened part of the "exhausttube. During this movement the sealing oil burner melts and completelyseals up the exhaust tube and then also rounds oil the tip of the sealedexhaust tube as the lamp holder swings somewhat further into theposition shown in Figure 6. After the lamp is sealed off the finger 6 isautomatically swung away from the other finger to open the lamp holderand drop the lamp into the chute 28,.

The invention is not limited to the details illustrated. -The tippingmovement of the lamp holder bracket, instead of being produced by itsown weight, may, for example, be produced by a lever or arm controlledby a' cam disc to positively depress the lamp holder bracket in thesealing ofi' operation. Then too the sealing oil burner can beseparately supported and the finger 6 be controlled by a lever systemin' place of the Bowden pull. For carrying out the automatic sealing OEand delivery it is not necessary that the lamps be fixed in an inclinedposition on the rotatable exhaust valve; they may be also arranged in ahorizontal position with a suitable support of the holders. Then tooevery lamp can, when the exhaust tube does not, as shown in thedrawings, extend into the interior of the stem of the lamp, but isapplied outside to the tip, be reversely fastened to the rotatableexhaust valve, in which case, the finger 5 must bear against the top andthe finger 6 against the neck of the lamp. The new sealing oil anddelivery device may be used for sealed vessels other than electriclamps, for example, gas discharge tubes, Roentgen tubes,

rectifiers and similar evacuated vessels.

What we claim ashew and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is, 1. In a device of the character described, the combinationwith a head for holding a tubulated vessel by the end of the exhausttube, of a holder bodily movable away from said head to elongate saidtubulature and comprising relatively movable fingers for gripping saidvessel, a burner mounted to direct the flame upon the exhaust tubeadjacent said holder, and means actuated subsequent to said bodilymovement of said holder to separate said fingers and deliver the vesselfrom said holder.

2. In a. device of the character described, the combination with a headfor holding a tubulated lamp b the end of the exhaust tube, of a lamp liolder comprising relatively movable grippingfingers to engage the bulbof the lamp and a supporting bar for said fingers movably mounted topermit said holder to move bodily lengthwise of said exhaust tube and aheater for heating the exhaust tube adjacent said holder.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a headfor holding a holder toward said head, and a tubulated vessel by theexhaust tube ofa holder comprising relatively movable gripping fingersmountedon a'supporting' bar pivoted to permit said holder to movebodiliy alongthe exhaust tube held in said hea and a sealing .ofi'burner mounted in posi-' tion to direct a flame upon said exhaust tubeand to travel along it with said holder.

4. In a.device of the character described,-

the combination with a head for holding a tubulated vessel by the end ofthe exhaust tube, of a holder for the vessel pivotally mounted to swingaway from said head byits own weight, and means for heating the exhausttube. while said holder is restrained by the exhaust tube only wherebythe tipping of the holder by its own weight sepas rates and seals offsald heated exhaust tube.

5. In a device of the character described. the combination with. a headfor holding a' tubulated lampbulb'by the end of the ex haust tube, aheater for heating said exhaust tube adjacent the bulb, a lamp holderpivoted to swingv away from said. head by gravity and having a tailadjacent its pivot, a lever for engaging said tail to swing said cammovable with said head to actuate said lever to raise said holder intoproximity to said head and then to release it to permit it to swin awayfrom said head by gravity.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination with a headfor holding a tubulated lamp by the end of the exhaust tube, of apivoted holder and a pivoted sealing ofi burner mounted toswing aboutthe same. pivot, an adjustable "holder stop and an adjustable burnerstop for limiting the to the holder so as to increase the separation ofsaid holder and said sealing oil burner atthe termination of themovement ofsaid holder.

7. In a devicepf the character described, the combination with a headfor holding a tubulated lamp by the end of the exhaust tube, of a sealinofl? burner and a lamp holding finger or gripping the lamp, mOHnted adaeent said burner, said finger being provided with a protective shieldadj acent said burner comprising a pivoted cover movable to one side bythe exhaust tube and shaped to drop into normal position to protect theneck of the lamp from said burner when the lamp is in engagement withsaid finger.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination with a .headfor holding a tubulated lamp bulb by the end of-the exhaust tube, of aheater for heatingsaid exhaust tube adjacent the bulb, a lamp holdercomprising relatively movable gripping fingers, said holder beingmounted to swing bodily away from said head, a flexible actuatingconnection to one of said fingers, and

means actuated by the driving mechanism of said head for operating saidconnection to positively move said finger to release the lamp.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination ofan exhausthead, an exhaust tube heater mounted to heat an exhaust tube in saidhead, a lamp holder adjacent said heater and mounted to move bodily tivemovable bulb" gripping fingers, and driving mechanism for moving saidholder bodily away from said exhaust head along an exhaust tube in saidhead and for controlling said gripping fingers to open them while saidholder is remote from said head. In Witness whereof, We have hereuntoset our hands this 5th day. of February, 1925.

' Dr. -WALTHER-WINFRIED LOEBE.

MAX GROSSMANN.

awa from said headand com-prising rela-

